Utah Jazz Guard Isaiah Collier made history in last night’s 110-106 road loss against the Charlotte Hornets. With his 416th assist of the season he passed Hall of Fame point guard and Utah Jazz legend John Stockton for the most assists for a rookie in franchise history. This achievement puts Collier in rarefied air as Stockton has the most assists in league history.
Collier has had a strong rookie campaign. He is averaging 8.3 points per game, 3,3 rebounds, and 6.2 assists. He is 16th in the league in assists. Collier was drafted No. 29 by the Jazz out of USC. Will he be able to finish his rookie season on a high note for a rebuilding Utah Jazz team?
Utah Jazz Season Summary
It has been a rough season for the Jazz. They have the worst record in the league at 16-60. Utah has tried losing this season by sitting Power Forward Lauri Markkanen last month. That led to the NBA fining the team $100,000 for holding him out of recent games. This was the league cracking down on the “load management” of All-Star players.
Utah’s offense, as should be expected, has not been good this year. They are 21st in points scored, 21st in field goal percentage, and 21st in three-point percentage. The Jazz have been just as bad on defense this season. They are 29th in points allowed, 26th in opposing field goal percentage, and 11th in opposing three-point percentage.
Final Thoughts
Collier’s strong rookie season ensures he will be a cornerstone for the Utah Jazz for years to come. Even though the team had a terrible season, they have a 14% chance to earn the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Collier and the Jazz return to the court Wednesday night on the road against the Houston Rockets. Collier has been stellar this year and will look to finish strong over the last handful of games.
